College Baseball 360 Week-2 Primetime Performers

The second week of the 2013 college baseball season was significantly different from opening week, with much fewer upsets and not as many compelling matchups. Nonetheless, several players emerged from a relatively routine second week to produce the latest edition of the CB360 Primetime Performers, as presented by CollegeBaseball360.com. Florida Gulf Coast fifth-year senior first baseman Brooks Beisner (Punta Gorda, Fla.) is the CB360 National Primetime Player of the Week while Oregon State senior lefthander Matt Boyd (Mercer Island, Wash.) is the Primetime Pitcher of the Week for Feb. 18-24, 2013. They are joined by six others in comprising the week-2 Primetime Performers Weekly Honor Roll (listed below). front-page photo courtesy of Florida Gulf Coast

Brooks Beisner’s strong start to the 2013 season includes leading FGCU to its series sweep at Florida.

BEISNER hit at a .500 clip (6-for-12) with six RBI and 14 total bases while leading FGCU to a sweep at CB360 #15 Florida (8-2, 8-3, 7-4 in 11 inn.), vaulting the Eagles into the national rankings. The fifth-year senior reached base seven times in the series (one walk) and had more home runs (2) that strikeouts (1) during the three games, adding a pair of doubles and three runs scored.

In the series opener at Florida, Beisner factored into half of his team’s runs (3RBI-2R-HR) en route to the 8-2 win (1-for-2 with a walk). He added a double and RBI single in game-2 before playing a key role in the extra-inning finale (3-for-6, 2RBI, HR, 2B). On the first pitch he saw in the 7th inning of game-3, Beisner launched a 2-out, 2-run blast over the rightfield to tie the game (4-4) and ultimately forced extra innings.

Beisner ended the Florida series with a .520 season batting avg. (13-for-25), plus 11 RBI, six runs, four home runs and a 1.691 OPS (.571 on-base pct. plus 1.120 slugging pct.). He is playing his first, and only, season at Florida Gulf Coast – after spending his first two seasons at St. Petersburg JC, then playing in 2011 at Auburn before redshirting at FGCU in 2012 (due to transfer rules).

A position player and reliever previously in his Oregon State career, senior Matt Boyd has been stellar as a top starter for the Beavers so far in 2013.

BOYD shut down San Diego State (cb360 #32) – which was coming off a sweep at rival San Diego (cb360 preseason #20) – in game-2 of the series at SDSU, leading the Beavers to a 2-0 win and an eventual 4-game series sweep that pushed team’s record to 8-0 (program’s best unbeaten start since 1952). The veteran lefty scattered five hits in a career-long 8.1 innings, with a career-best nine strikeouts.

In addition to retiring 13 straight batters at one point, spanning the 3rd-7th innings , Boyd walked only one hitter (30 batters faced), with 20 of his 24 outs coming via strikeouts or groundouts (11). He allowed only one extra-base hit (double) and his strong outing was pivotal in the low-scoring win, as SDSU starter Philip Walby worked 7.2 strong innings of his own (2R-5H-2BB-9K) in a game that was scoreless entering the 8th.

Boyd had served as a position player and primary a relief pitcher previously in his Oregon State career, with only two career starts on the mound prior to 2013. He has compiled a 1.17 season ERA and a 6.5 K-to-walk ratio (13-to-2) while pitching four more innings (15.1) than hits allowed (11; .196 opp. batting avg.).

Primetime Performer Award Criteria (not based solely on raw stats, but rather …)
• Must have been playing for or against a CB360 top-50 team (in the Composite National Rankings or performed a high level in games that could be key to a team’s conference/NCAA postseason qualification; made significant contribution to team’s success and potential postseason positioning (single-game wins, “quality” wins, series wins, road wins, etc.).
• Involved in clutch performances, such as late game-winning hits, noteworthy comebacks, game-changing plays, team leadership, key defensive efforts, etc.
• Performed at a top level against a team rated highly nationally (or within its conference), with bonus consideration given for key performances away from home field and vs. traditional rivals.
• Overcame adversity or extreme circumstances (for the team and/or individual).
• Any accomplishment that is rare, historic, record-setting, etc., on a national level.

CB360 PRIMETIME PERFORMERS WEEKLY HONOR ROLL (2012; #2)(week of Feb. 18-24, 2013 … presented by CollegeBaseball360.com) “It’s not so much what you do, as it is when you do it.”

Hit at a .500 clip (6-for-12) with six RBI and 14 total bases while leading FGCU to sweep at cb360 #15 Florida (8-2, 8-3, 7-4 in 11 inn.) that vaulted Eagles into the national rankings … reached base seven times in the series (one walk) and had more home runs (2) that strikeouts (1) during the three games, adding a pair of doubles and three runs scored … factored into half of FGCU’s runs (3RBI-2R-HR) in 8-2 series opener (1-for-2, BB), adding a double and RBI single in game-2 before playing key role in the extra-inning finale (3-for-6, 2RBI, HR, 2B) … launched first pitch he saw in 7th inning over rightfield fence for 2-out, 2-run blast that tied game-3 (4-4) and ultimately forced extra innings … ended the Florida series with a .520 season batting avg. (13-for-25), plus 11 RBI, six runs, four home runs and a 1.691 OPS (.571 on-base pct. plus 1.120 slugging pct.) … spent his first two seasons at St. Petersburg JC, then played in 2011 at Auburn before redshirting at FGCU in 2012 (due to transfer rules) … product of Charlotte High School (near Sarasota).

Shut down San Diego State (cb360 #32) – which was coming off a sweep at rival San Diego (cb360 preseason #20) – in game-2 of series at SDSU, leading Beavers to 2-0 win and eventual 4-game series sweep that pushed team’s record to 8-0 (program’s best unbeaten start since 1952) … scattered five hits in a career-long 8.1 innings, with a career-best nine strikeouts … retired 13 straight batters at one point, spanning the 3rd-7th innings … walked only one hitter (30 batters faced), with 20 of his 24 outs coming via strikeouts or groundouts (11) … allowed only one extra-base hit (double) … his strong outing was pivotal in the low-scoring win, as SDSU starter Philip Walby worked 7.2 strong innings of his own (2R-5H-2BB-9K) in game that was scoreless entering the 8th … had served as a position player and primary relief pitcher previously in his Oregon State career, with only two career starts on the mound prior to 2013 … has compiled a 1.17 season ERA and a 6.5 K-to-walk ratio (13-to-2) while pitching four more innings (15.1) than hits allowed (11; .196 opp. batting avg.) … product of Eastside Catholic High School in the Seattle area.

Continued his strong start to the season by batting 8-for-13 (.615) during week that included 9-7 win over Jacksonville and sweep of South Florida team (14-3, 8-0, 5-2) that is expected to content for a top-4 finish in the BIG EAST … racked up 19 total bases during the week, with three home runs and a pair of doubles … finished with hits, RBI and runs in a ll four games … had a walk and 2-out, 2-run blast in win over the Dolphins … reached base on all five of his plate appearances in series opener vs. USF (4-for-4, BB), with a home run and double … added 1st-inning, 2-run single in game-2, going on to steal a base and score a run (he reached twice more, on a walk and a double) … drew start in left field for series finale and doubled in his first at-bat, later hitting another home run for some 8th-inning insurance … the impressive week included one stretch of reaching base on eight consecutive plate appearances … ended the USF series with a team-best .455 batting avg. (10-for-22), plus four home runs, nine RBI, eight runs and three doubles (1.707 season OPS: .571 on-base plus 1.136 slugging) … transfer from Walter State JC who began his college career at LSU, in 2010-11 … product of Cincinnati’s Princeton High School.

Notre Dame 3-hole hitter who did a little bit of everything during three wins at cb360 #35 Tulane (2-1, 3-1, 8-3), as Irish became first team since 1997 to sweep a 3-game series from a homestanding Green Wave team … executed on eight plate appearances during the series, batting 4-for-9 with a pair of walks and two sacrifice flies … factored into five of his team’s 13 runs (4RBI-2R-HR), during series when scoring often was at a premium … also had a double and stolen base during the series, with only one strikeout and no errors while playing at the hot corner … his 2-run shot broke a scoreless deadlock in the 6th inning of the series opener (also reached on a walk in game-1) … drew an intentional walk in the opening inning of game-2, then stole a base and scored on Ryan Bull’s 2-out double for 2-0 lead (added sacrifice fly in 7th, during tense game that ended 3-1) … closed the weekend by batting 2-for-4 with a double and sacrifice fly in the series-sweeping win … started all 53 games as a freshman in 2012 (mostly in left or center field, plus both corner infield spots) … product of Downers Grove North High School, in the Chicago suburbs.

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JACKSON McCLELLANDPepperdine … RHP … Fr. … Beaumount, CA … #38

Rookie who rose to the challenge during tense, low-scoring series finale at cb360 #26 Texas A&M, allowing one run off six hits and only one walk in a quality six-inning stint (one K) … his clutch effort was all the more important due to a similarly strong outing by A&M’s Rafael Pinada, who allowed one run in his seven innings (6H-3K) … helped keep the Pepperdine offense in the game, with the Waves ultimately scoring the decisive run (2-1) in the 9th to claim the series (won opener 5-3, lost 3-1 in close game-2) … also pitched scoreless 1.1 innings in midweek game vs. Cal State Fullerton (which still has yet to lose in 2013) … product of Riverside’s Redlands East Valley High School.xxxx

Leadoff batter who hit 8-for-18 (.444) while producing several key plays during 4-game week vs. quality opposition, as Tide extended their strong start to the 2013 season … reached base nine times during the week (with a walk) and factored into seven of his team’s runs (4RBI-3R), while striking only one twice as the offense’s table setter … scored once and drive in two more (one on an 8th-inning double), adding a stolen base, in 10-8 midweek win over Southern Mississippi (cb360 #24) … opened series at Florida Atlantic (cb360 #50) with big game, batting 3-for-5 with an RBI and run scored in 5-2 victory (rest of Tide lineup totaled only four hits) … his leadoff single sparked decisive 3-run top of the 8th that led to the series-opening win (was 2-2 thru 7) … similarly opened game-2 with single that led to three runs for Alabama (added a 2-out RBI single in the 4th, for 4-1 lead and eventual 4-1 win) … had one of his team’s four hits in series finale, vs. tough pitcher Jeremy Strawn … has combined with the team’s middle-infield combination – SS Mikey White and 2B Kyle Overstreet – to give Alabama a freshman trio batting at the top of the order so far this season … local product from Vestavia Hills High School.

Clutch-hitting veteran who led UCI to three wins in 4-game series vs. visiting cb360 #35 California (5-3, 6-8, 4-3 in 10, 9-1) … hit 9-for-19 (.474) during the series, with six RBI … accounted for both a game-winning RBI and a game-winning run during the series … snapped a 3-3 tie in the 7th inning of the opener, delivering RBI double that scored Dominique Taylor for the eventual winning margin … went on to smack an early solo home run and bat 3-for-5 in game-2 (2 RBI) … the third game of the series entered extra-inning at 2-2, with the Bears scoring in the 10th before he played pivotal role in wining rally – with tying single before scoring the winning run … closed the series with a hit and two more RBI in the only lopsided score of the week … ended the Cal series with a team-leading .469 seson batting average … 4th-year starter who utilized medical redshirt season in 2012, after first team all-Big West season in 2011 (when he was named an ABCA Gold Glover) … named a Freshman All-American and second team all-Big West in 2009 … product of Pacifica High School in Orange County.

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GRAHAMM WIESTCal State Fullerton … RHP … So.
Orange, CA … #12

Part of talented young Titans pitching staff, logging 7.1 shutout innings in series finale at TCU (cb360 #23) – as Fullerton completed impressive road sweep (7-2, 6-2, 7-0) for 8-0 start to the 2013 season … faced only 27 batters – including the minimum through the first four innings … 17 of his 22 outs came via strikeous (5) or groundballs (12, including a pair of early doubl plays) … scattered four hits and issued only one walk … located 64 of his 95 pitches for strikes … product of JSerra High School, in San Juan Capistrano.